Title III Fellowship Project Annoucnement
Fellowship Cycle: Year 1
Awarded to: Linda Holtzman
Related Courses:
- MEDC 2800: Media and Cultural Diversity
- MEDC
3190: Introduction to Media Research
Project Abstract: This project is designed to use technology as a tool to transform the teaching and learning in two required courses in the School of Communications at Webster University .
The key learning objectives in the Media and Cultural Diversity course are involve understanding and applying the concepts, skills and tools to assess messages about diversity in entertainment media. This skill development aims to lead to the larger goal to sharpen awareness and independent thinking about how media contributes to shaping beliefs and values. The project strategies to strengthen these goals include 1) development of visual curriculum in the form of DVD's or CD-ROMs that allow students to investigate media messages about race, gender, class and sexual orientation and 2) development of a written and power point manual to accompany the visual curriculum. Both of these products will be available to the 5 adjunct faculty who teach this course and to students..
The Introduction to Media Research course uses a social science approach to investigate media messages and their impact in news and entertainment media. Students learn to collect and analyze primary data from the media (such as prime time television, film, news articles, magazine ads, etc.). The project strategies are designed to assist students in using appropriate technology (e.g. digital recording software) for systematic data collection and for data analysis (e.g. computer software for quantitative analysis). Students will benefit by learning state of the art methods of media research and with more consistent data collection and analysis will have greater opportunities for publication. This course transformation will also involve investigating the feasibility and costs of a Media Research lab that could institutionalize some of the pedagogy and technology from this project, ground students in sophisticated research techniques and pave the way for media research projects and grants.